OK. My version was the cautious story, if you want to make sure your vote counts. I never bothered testing the limits back home --- also you do not really get feedback, your vote will be just silently discarded or counted.
By the way the Bundeswahlgesetz (Paragraph 39, Absatz 1) says: "Ungültig sind Stimmen, wenn der Stimmzettel [...] einen Zusatz oder Vorbehalt enthält."
So in general, putting extra stuff besides your tick, is not allowed.